Telescopic closure for can and canister type containers

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a telescopic closure for can and canister-like containers, in which the part of the closure projecting beyond the upper base of the container has been kept particularly shallow in order to be able to guarantee a perfect stacking of the containers.

United States Patent Krautkramer [45] Ar. 25, 1972 [54] TELESCOPIC CLOSURE FOR CAN AND [56 References Cited CANISTER TYPE CONTAINERS UNITED STATES E TS [72] Inventor: Gi'mter J. Kra krii Budenheim m 2,772,822 12/1956 Phillips ..222/520 R e, Ge many 3,255,928 6/1966 Foster 2,774,523 12/1956 Rieke [73 Berg 3.042242 7/1962 Abt ..222/541 [22] Filed: May 6, 1970 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [2|] Appl. No.: 35,130

103,996 3/1964 Norway ..222/525 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerJames M. Slattery May 9, 1969 Germany ..G 69 18 848.3 Nov. 17, 1969 Germany..... ......P 19 57 710.7 A'mmey cushmanoarbygcushman [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl ..222/522, 222/568 [51.] int. Cl ..B65d 25/40 The invemion relates to a telescopic closure for and 53 Field f Search l I l l 222 5 525 520 5 52 canister-like containers, in which the part of the closure projecting beyond the upper base of the container has been kept particularly shallow in order to be able to guarantee a perfect stacking of the containers.

PATENTEI] APR 2 5 I972 SHEET 1 pr 2 FIG] R O N E V W PATEMTEB APR 2 5 1972 SHEET 2 EF 2 FIGA I Hill INVENTOR TELESCOPIC CLOSURE FOR CAN AND CANISTER TYPE CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Closures have been known where the drain pipe is connected in one piece with the lower part of theclosure which attaches the closure in the container, and where the drain pipe can be turned in like a bellows to the inside of the container. These closures likewise make possible the stacking of the containers but they are disadvantageous in that very thin walled parts must be available in order to make it possible to turn in the closures. For understandable reasons, these thin walled parts are particularly subject to damage in thecase of aggressive filler goods and frequently lead to stress corrosion and thus to leaks. Besides, telescopic closures have been known where a threaded pipe is connected with a container in a different manner and which have a screw cap which can be fastened onto the above mentioned threaded pipe, and where, in the insideof the threaded pipe, there is a telescopic pipe which can be pulled up after the cap is unscrewed in order to make it possible to pour the contents out. These closures have the disadvantage that the threaded pipe must have a certain height, so that the screw cap can be fastened, as a result of which the possibility for stacking the containers will suffer from a negative influence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The task of the present invention is a telescopic closure for can and canister like containers which, in its positioned state, has a particularly shallow constructional height of the part which projects beyond the upper base.

According to the invention, this problem will be solved through a lower part of a closure provided with an inside thread and which is to be attached insolubly to the container, and a telescoping pipe provided with the corresponding outside thread. 1

From this the advantage will result of a particularly good possibility for stacking and of a possibility of not having to draw the upper bases of the containers particularly deep, as a result of which one will achieve a saving in labor and material.

The thread of the telescoping pipe may extend over its entire length or else there may be a thread only at the upper and possibly also at the lower end.

A connecting band acting like a hinge, a snap cover, will be attached effectively on the telescoping pipe. This snap cover can be welded together in places with the lower part of the closure, as a result of which the original state of the contents of the container will be guaranteed and, at the same time, the snap cover will be secured against unintended opening during transportation or storage. Naturally the welding is accomplished in such a way that, in the case of its first use, this weld can be broken by hand or one can tear it off. For this purpose special welding flaps have been attached on the snap cover.

In order to be able to screw the telescopic pipe easily into and out of the lower part of the closure, two radially outwardly projecting tabs are attached at the upper end, effectively sprayed on in one piece. These continuations are developed rigidly in a tangential direction and resiliently elastically in an axial direction. The rigidity in the tangential direction brings about a safe grip in case of screwing in and out, while the elastic resiliency in an axial direction causes these continua tions to be pressed downwards in the case of stacking the containers one above the other.

According to the invention, handlingis further facilitated through the fact that the inside thread of the lower part of the closure has interruptions with which the core thread, which is guided to the lower edge of the telescopic pipe, engages.

In this manner it will be possible for the user of the telescopic closure to merely unscrew the telescopic pipe when making use of the canister and that it will no longer'be necessary to pull up the extension, since, upon reaching the core thread, the telescopic pipe, in the case of the same rotational direction, will be moved upward. The drawingshows embodiments of the invention schematically by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a telescopic closure in a retracted condition with the snap cover prior to first opening, in a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially along line I--[ of FIG. 2,

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the closure of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the closure taken substantially along III-Ill of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As can be seen from the figures, a closure element 1 has been provided, which can be inserted insolubly into an opening of a container. This can be achieved for example through ramming home into the bent open edge of the aperture.

The lower part 1 of the closure has an inside thread 2 into which the corresponding outside thread 3 of the telescopic pipe 4 can bescrewed in. The telescopic pipe has the customary channel with the ventilating opening 5.

THe snap cover 7 has been attached at the upper end by means of a connecting band 6 acting like a hinge. The snap cover 7 has welding flaps 8, which in spots can be welded to the upper edge of the lower part 1 of the closure. These welding flaps can easily be torn off by hand prior to the first use of the container.

Above the inside thread 2 of part 1 of the closure and the outside thread 3 of the telescoping pipe 4, a sealing cone will be effectively inserted. The snap cover 7 may be attached in one piece at the telescoping pipe covering the connecting band 6.

In order to facilitate the screwing in and out, the projections 9 are located at the upper end of the telescoping pipe, which are developed rigidly in a tangential direction and elastically resilient in an axial direction. In putting an additional container on top of the first one, these projections 9 are pressed downward and do not impede the stacking of the containers.

In the case of use, the telescoping pipe is unscrewed, is pulled upwards by means of a handle 10 up to the stop 11. It is advantageous to attach an outside thread also on the lower end of the telescoping pipe, so that the pulled out telescoping pipe can be safely stopped also in this state.

In correspondence with FIG. 4, there is an additional outside thread 3a on the lower end of the telescoping pipe, which likewise corresponds to the inside thread 2 of the lower part 1 of the closure and which establishes a tensional connection in the pulled out state of the telescoping pipe 4. The telescopic pipe 4 has the customary channel with a ventilating opening 5.

In order to facilitate the handling of the pulling out, the inside thread part 1 of the closure has interruptions, in which the coarse thread 12 engages, which coarse thread has been guided up to the lower thread 3a of the telescoping pipe 4.

I claim: 1. A telescopic closure for a container opening comprising: an annular member having a longitudinal bore and means on the annular member for securing the annular member in a container opening; a tubular telescopic neck slidably axially received in the bore of the annular member; means defining cooperating helical internal threading on the annular member and externally on at least an axially short portion of the tubular telescopic neck adjacent the outer end of the tubular telescopic neck for fixing the degree of axial extension of the tubular telescopic neck relative to the annular member; and means for closing the outer end of the tubular telescopic neck, comprising a cover having circumferential skirt means thereon for snapping, sealing engagement with the outer end of the tubular telescopic neck and integral flexible band hinge means connecting a perimetrically short portion of said cover to a perimetrically short portion of said tubular telescopic neck;

3. The telescopic closure of claim 2 further including helical threading on said tubular telescopic neck connecting the firstmentioned and second axially short threaded portions.

4. The telescopic closure of claim 1 further including two laterally opposed tabs projecting generally radially outwardly from the outer end of the tubular telescopic neck, said tabs being substantially rigid tangentially of the tubular telescopic neck and elastically resilient axially of the tubular telescopic neck. 

1. A telescopic closure for a container opening comprising: an annular member having a longitudinal bore and means on the annular member for securing the annular member in a container opening; a tubular telescopic neck slidably axially received in the bore of the annular member; means defining cooperating helical internal threading on the annular member and externally on at least an axially short portion of the tubular telescopic neck adjacent the outer end of the tubular telescopic neck for fixing the degree of axial extension of the tubular telescopic neck relative to the annular member; and means for closing the outer end of the tubular telescopic neck, comprising a cover having circumferential skirt means thereon for snapping, sealing engagement with the outer end of the tubular telescopic neck and integral flexible band hinge means connecting a perimetrically short portion of said cover to a perimetrically short portion of said tubular telescopic neck; further including at least one frangible seal initially securing said cover to said annular member to prevent opening of the cover unless the seal is broken; the at least one frangible seal comprising at least one flap integral with the cover and welded to the annular member.
 2. The telescopic closure of claim 1 wherein the first mentioned axially short threaded portion of the tubular telescopic neck is supplemented by a second axially short threaded portion dispersed adjacent the inner end of the tubular telescopic neck.
 3. The telescopic closure of claim 2 further including helical threading on said tubular telescopic neck connecting the first-mentioned and second axially short threaded portions.
 4. The telescopic closure of claim 1 further including two laterally opposed tabs projecting generally radially outwardly from the outer end of the tubular telescopic neck, said tabs being substantially rigid tangentially of the tubular telescopic neck and elastically resilient axially of the tubular telescopic neck. 